American Heart Association Announces Union Bank as No. 1 National Heart Walk Team for 2014

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Feb 25, 2015, 10:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Heart Association (AHA) today announced that its longtime supporter, Union Bank, has been named the No. 1 National Heart Walk Team for 2014, making it the fourth time the bank has earned this distinction. Union Bank was also the No. 1 National Heart Walk Team in 2013, 2012 and 2010. Bank employees, family, friends and customers collectively raised more than $644,000 during the 2014 Heart & Stroke Walk campaign. Union Bank has supported the AHA's mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, for nearly 30 years.

"Union Bank has a remarkable and far-reaching impact on our lifesaving work," said AHA Western States Affiliate Executive Vice President Kathy Rogers. "The funds they raise support our cardiovascular research efforts, community education and patient care improvement initiatives that save and improve lives every day. They are also empowering people to live heart-healthy through their outreach to employees, customers and the communities they serve."

Over the last eight years alone, Union Bank has donated more than $7 million to the AHA. Its support has expanded to grassroots community outreach, with Union Bank hosting health and wellness expos in select locations throughout the bank's footprint.

Union Bank has a long history of employee involvement with the AHA. Many of its executives serve on leadership committees and thousands of employees participate in many AHA events, including Heart & Stroke Walks throughout the country. In 2014, an estimated 10,000 people, including nearly 4,500 bank employees, their friends and families, and customers, participated in more than 300 Walks.

"This recognition belongs to our employees who lead the way with our friends and families, and of course our customers, to complete the force behind Team Union Bank," said Union Bank Managing Director Pierre P. Habis, who heads Consumer and Business Banking. "We are honored to support the AHA's mission and very proud to have earned the title of the No. 1 Heart Walk Fundraising Team in the nation for four of the past five years – way to go Team Union Bank!"

Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of death in America, claiming more than 787,000 lives every year. The American Heart Association's 2020 goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases by 20 percent.

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SOURCE The American Heart Association